FAQs

Who is exempt?
Any student attending a full-time educational programme which has an average of at least 21 hours per week of study, tuition or work experience can claim exemption from paying Council Tax. Students on a placement year integral to their programme of study can also claim exemption.

Students must either be resident in their family home, a student residence or a rented property where all the other residents are full-time students. In particular, students on a placement year should exercise caution if renting a room in a house with employed tenants as the exemption for that year may be lost. (Final decisions regarding exemption are at the discretion of the relevant Council. Should you have any further queries please contact your local Council Tax office.)

Students are only exempt when they are fully enrolled on a full-time course. To become fully enrolled, you must complete online enrolment and all fees must be paid, or payment arrangements in place.

When am I exempt?
Full-time students are only exempt from Council Tax for the duration of their course as specified by the academic term dates. This does include vacation periods within your course of study. For students who complete one course of study and progress onto another course in the next academic period, we cannot provide confirmation that you are studying in the period between the two courses; therefore your Council may not grant you an exemption for this period between studies.

Exemption is only available whilst you are studying full-time. If you take time out from your studies your exemption will be lost.

Am I exempt as a Research Student?
Exemption may still be available to research students studying full-time. We may need to check study hours with your Graduate School Office which may cause a slight delay in responding to your request.

I live in a university residence so do I need a certificate?
Students living in a university hall of residence do not need to collect an exemption certificate as these properties are automatically exempt from the charge.

How much exemption do I get?
An eligible student gains full exemption for themselves only, therefore:

A group of eligible students living in rented accommodation can claim full exemption for paying Council Tax for that property, by each obtaining a certificate of exemption.

A mature student living at home with their working partner will be fully exempt from Council Tax, and the partner if they are the only other adult in the property will be able to claim the 25% single persons discount, as the only liable adult residing in the property.